Hairspraying a conning tower
As of late I’am using the so called hairspray technic. Maybe some of you know this technic which creates random patterns and chipping effects. For those who are not familiar with this procedure I have written down this short how-to guide because this technic is IMO very helpful for modelers.
I used a inexpensive hairspray from the supermarket near by, but you can also make use of commercial chipping fluids which you have to apply with airbrush. Products sold by Mig Jimenez through his label „ammo of mig“ for example.
Step A
Once more I used the hue „steel“ as a primer for the conning tower just like I did with the two hull halves before. I let the ct cure for a few hours. The hairspray was applied after curing for 10 Minutes I sprayed the ct with a hull red tone (anti fouling paint) again straight from Tamiya aerosol can (picture „001“).
Step B
Don’t wait to long starting with the chipping effects (it’s fun!): So 5 minutes later I submerged the whole conning tower in hand-hot water for roughly 60 seconds. After that I start wiping with a stiff (old) brush to rub down the hull red and the steel tone appeared as random patterns, that’s the effect we are keen on (picture „002“).
Step C
Next step is to seal the ct with clear lacquer to protect our previous work for further tasks. Again I gave the ct time to dry for a fistful of hours (picture „003“). Then I repeated the above described steps: Applying hairspray, waiting for 5 minutes, spread the next paint (Tamiya „Haze Gray“, to simulate the upper hull color) and so forth. Now a steel and hull red pattern appears (picture „004“). After drying seal your work once more. Now you have a good basis for classic weathering actions like applying salt streaks, rain marks, rust, grime and so forth. The Tamiya hull red lost the brigthnesss during the afterwards weathering process.
If you have any further queries referring to the hairspray technic, please do not hesitate to ask me.
Regards
falo